Cabana Joe's wins Norwalk Rec Wood Bat Softball title

The Norwalk Recreation & Parks Department Men's Wood-bat softball league has only been in existence for two years. Since it's inception it still has only one champion.

Cabana Joe's/Sunsations won the league title for the second consecutive year with a dominating 11-1 win over Partner's Cafe Tuesday night at Calf Pasture Beach.

Billy Constantino went 3-for-3 with three RBIs to pace the offense and Dave Liberatore tossed a complete game, surrendering just one run to earn the win as Cabana Joe's took advantage of timely hitting and some great defense to post the victory.

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Joe's pounded out 17 hits while plating 11 runs as six players tallied two hits or more.

"You're always satisfied with a win," head coach Tony Cappuccia said. "It's the second year in a row we've won it now and it was fitting that we played Partner's in the championship game."

Cabana Joe's and Partner's were the two best teams in the league during the regular season and went into the postseason seeded No. 1 and 2, respectively. Partner's advanced to the finals after posting a 9-8 victory in the losers bracket finals.

Cabana Joe's jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning, stringing together three straight two-out hits. After scoring two more runs over the next three frames, Joe's scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a commanding 11-0 lead.

It was the Joe's defense that shined in the top of the sixth as Joe Ceruzzi made a spectacular diving catch in left center field to maintain a 5-0 lead. Partner's left fielder Glenn Katz came to the plate with the bases loaded and rifled a line drive to left field. Ceruzzi got a great job on the ball and made the catch on a ball that could have gone for an inside the park grand slam had it dropped in for a hit.

"Wood bat is so fun because it's not about the equipment it's about defense and team baseball." Liberatore said. "We did a great job throughout the regular season and the playoffs at playing great defense and we certainly did it again tonight. And anytime you score 11 runs in wood bat you certainly like your cances to win."

Catcher Sean Ireland had a great night for Joe's, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Billy Lengyel went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.